“Congressman Yarmuth has said all along that he would be surprised if Ashley Judd did not run, and he’s certainly surprised,” says Yarmuth spokesman Stephen George. “She appeared to be making all the moves that someone would if they were setting up a campaign of the size and scope it would take to challenge Senator McConnell.”

Judd did share “reservations” about running in a conversation with Yarmuth earlier this week, however, the liberal Democrat still believed she was intending to make a bid in 2014.

“I think the congressman is disappointed that she’s not running because he clearly believed Ashley Judd would run a strong campaign against Senator McConnell. But that said, I think they’re going to be—I think a strong candidate will emerge to challenge McConnell. This is a premier race,” says George.

Strategists now point to Democratic Secretary of State Allison Lundergan Grimes as the lead candidate.

But jabs that Grimes is an “untested” and “inexperienced” candidate have already begun as GOP observers note high-profiled Democrats have turned down a chance to take on Kentucky’s senior senator.

“I count more than 10 prominent Democrat who have all said no to the race,” says Republican strategist Scott Jennings. “What’s interesting is the most likely candidates and most formidable candidates have all now backed away for one reason or another. It seems to me one of the things happening in Kentucky is nobody seems to want to take on Mitch McConnell.”